We ended class last night (as we often do) with a very brief discussion of some budo philosophies. Last night we brushed over one, but discussed another of Gichin Funakoshi's 20 Precepts. The precept we brushed over was: "When you leave your door, think that you have numerous enemies waiting for you." There were a few chuckles at this one, and instead we focused on a precept more 'relevant' to us. After all, we live in Woolwich. Elmira and St. Jacobs are picture-perfect small-town safe. I love our community. Well, today at the Community Centre, I was robbed. When I returned from my run, I found the lock had been cut off my locker and the cash from my wallet emptied. Looking for the silver lining, my id and credit cards were left untouched.
When I travel abroad, we are cautious to the point of paranoid. Where and how I carry funds, photo-copies of cards, etc, etc, we do everything to be responsibly safe. When I travel to Toronto, heck even in Waterloo, I am cautious. Here at home I let my guard down and paid the price. Being aware does not entail being paranoid, it means being cautious. In the kids karate classes we often talk of the importance of 'awareness'. Crossing the road can be dangerous if you are not aware. Well, leaving valuables in a locker, even if it is locked is risky, even in Elmira. "When you leave your door, think that you have numerous enemies waiting for you."